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Hero #7
Heroes' Reward
Shield Dunleavy Mallorough and Source Shintaro Karish have lived in Flown Raven for five years, protecting its residents from natural disasters and enjoying the lack of interference from both the council of the Triple S and the Emperor.
When they are unexpectedly summoned to Shidonee’s Gap by the council, Lee and Taro learn that while they have been living at their isolated post, there have been a lot of changes in the world, changes that will drag them into unimaginable duties and unprecedented danger.
When they are unexpectedly summoned to Shidonee’s Gap by the council, Lee and Taro learn that while they have been living at their isolated post, there have been a lot of changes in the world, changes that will drag them into unimaginable duties and unprecedented danger.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2012
14 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
About the author
Moira J. Moore
11 books233 followersI started writing my first book when I was fourteen. I was sitting in class, bored out of my mind, and I started writing a story about a girl sitting in class, bored out of her mind. Except her class was in a school of wizardry. That story turned into a book. An awful book that I tried and failed to get published. I'm grateful the internet wasn't a thing back then, because I surely would have put it online and it would be out there forever.
Since then I've continued to write books and continued to put life experiences in them. My frustration with alpha male characters, the extreme weather I experienced while living in Japan, and contract law have all shown up in my fantasy novels.
The first six books in my Heroes series were published by ACE. ACE didn't want to finish the series, so I did, by self-publishing Heroes Reward. I fell so in love with the self-publishing experience that I have no inclination to seek a traditional publisher again.
My most recent book, The CEO Can Drop Dead, is a contemporary novel that portrays common romance tropes as the abusive behaviour that they are. I mean no disrespect to the romance genre as a whole, I don't believe it's any less worthy than any other genre, but the prevalence of abusive behaviour disturbs me, so I wrote a book about it. 25% of my royalties is donated to the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres.
Since then I've continued to write books and continued to put life experiences in them. My frustration with alpha male characters, the extreme weather I experienced while living in Japan, and contract law have all shown up in my fantasy novels.
The first six books in my Heroes series were published by ACE. ACE didn't want to finish the series, so I did, by self-publishing Heroes Reward. I fell so in love with the self-publishing experience that I have no inclination to seek a traditional publisher again.
My most recent book, The CEO Can Drop Dead, is a contemporary novel that portrays common romance tropes as the abusive behaviour that they are. I mean no disrespect to the romance genre as a whole, I don't believe it's any less worthy than any other genre, but the prevalence of abusive behaviour disturbs me, so I wrote a book about it. 25% of my royalties is donated to the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 4, 2015
The conflict between the Triple S and the crown is finally coming to a head. And naturally, despite five years of relative obscurity far from politics, Dunleavy and Karish wind up right in the middle of it. Recruited by both the Triple S and the king to help prepare for war, the country’s most notorious pair find themselves marching, literally, through the mud of national politics. And knowing both Dunleavy and Karish, they are quite likely to make things worse . . . if that is even possible.
Heroes’ Reward is the final--and necessary--episode of Moira J. Moore’s Heroes (Sword and Shield) series. I can’t even tell you how many wonderful hours I’ve spent enjoying these books, and while I missed the romantic development from some of the earlier novels, I am so very grateful to the author for this final offering. Especially the real battle, which takes place not on the battlefield; but between Aryne and the king’s consort. I was cheering for Aryne the entire time!
Heroes’ Reward is the final--and necessary--episode of Moira J. Moore’s Heroes (Sword and Shield) series. I can’t even tell you how many wonderful hours I’ve spent enjoying these books, and while I missed the romantic development from some of the earlier novels, I am so very grateful to the author for this final offering. Especially the real battle, which takes place not on the battlefield; but between Aryne and the king’s consort. I was cheering for Aryne the entire time!
March 9, 2013
Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers
It has been five years since the dramatic events of Heroes at Odds, and, for the most part, Source and Shield Pair Shintaro Karish and Dunleavy Mallorough have had a much-earned restful break at the Flown Raven estate. Here, Taro and Lee know peace and happiness; Lee continues to improve on her casting skills while Taro is comfortably at home with his cousin and friend Fiona (aka Lady Westsea, and the title holder of the estate). This hero's respite, however, is about to come to an abrupt end. Lee and Taro receive unexpected summons to return to Shidonee's Gap, home of the Triple S Academy and headquarters, where they find the Triple S and the Emperor set at direct odds. Relieved of their duty as the Flown Raven Pair, Lee and Taro are mandated by the Triple S council to train shields and sources in the (formerly forbidden) arts of casting and of causing events. The Emperor, it seems, is gearing up for war against the Triple S, and it is up to Lee and Taro to train their fellow sources and shields for battle as best they can.
It's not long before Lee and Taro find themselves summoned by the Emperor himself - and after they are escorted to the palace, they are instructed by the Emperor to teach his casters and rogue pairs in the very same casting and event-instigating skills they've been teaching to the Triple S troops. Quickly, Lee and Taro see just how unstable and frightening the Emperor and his new advisor Lady Green are - the Emperor's opinion is the only one that matters, and any dissenting voices are immediately silenced (on point of death) without fair trial. Together, Lee and Taro must figure out a way to stay alive while subverting the Imperial efforts, before war tears their land apart.
The seventh and final book in the Heroes series, Heroes' Reward is a fitting end for Lee and Taro's adventures together as the Triple S's most talented - and independent - Pair. Ever since Lee and Taro were bonded, they've been on a non-stop roller coaster of action and drama, and in this final novel, we see the thrilling culmination of many of the different elements that have been simmering since Resenting the Hero. Most notably, Lee's ability to cast and use her shielding abilities to inflict devastating results, as well as Taro's ability to heal and cause events all come to fruition in this ultimate book. This is also the book in which we see the dramatic repercussions of the Pair's actions in Heroes Adrift (saving young Aryne, mixed blood heiress to the Empire), as the Emperor's state of mind and aggressive, harsh policies leave the empire torn and weakened - Aryne is the Empire's salvation, to unite a broken land (with Lee and Taro's help, of course). Having invested so many years in this series, it's amazingly gratifying and wonderful to see how it all ends, from a reader perspective. I love that Moira Moore made the effort to tell this story (even though her publisher dropped the series, after years of mis-marketing and mis-packaging the books, I might add). I love the way that everything comes to a fitting climax and resolution in Heroes' Reward - it is fittingly rewarding as a read.
Easily, this sense of finality and resolution is what I loved the most about Heroes' Reward. This, coupled with the incredibly high stakes (what with the future of an empire at stake) and the emphasis on consequences for all of Lee and Taro's actions over the arc of the series is an incredible payoff. For example, Lee's skill with casting has grown over the course of the past few books, and in Heroes' Reward, she puts those skills to the test. When she finally unveils the extent of her abilities (particularly, the ability to destroy other Sources by trapping their channeled forces as a destructive/inverse type of Shield power), the consequences are dire. Others on the opposing army learn what she is capable of, and follow her example with predictably frightening and horrific results. Another excellent strong point of this book is the pervasive feeling of powerlessness in the face of oppression, as Lee and her friends are torn between a sick Emperor with no respect for his people, and a bureaucratic (and deeply hypocritical) Triple S. In the face of this impossible situation, Lee's fear and the helplessness as the Pair is caught between these opposing forces is a very real and palpable thing.
On the negative side, however, Heroes' Reward continues that disconnected feel between both Lee and Taro. For the past couple of books, Lee and Taro's interactions - for all that they are always together - feel completely secondary and disjointed. Perhaps this is to be expected, considering how much is happening in the plot department, but one of my favorite things about this series overall is the relationship and interactions between Lee and Taro - the good, the funny, and the bad. By this seventh book, their relationship is firmly on the back-burner, and it's kind of a shame. We'll never get more of them, and I miss that intimacy the Pair had in earlier novels. Also on the shortcomings side, stylistically, there was some repetition of phrases and Lee wasn't quite as pithy as usual. That said, the writing was solid all around (also, on a technical note, formatting for the ebook simple and clean - a huge plus).
These criticisms said, overall, Heroes' Reward is an enjoyable and fitting end to a great series. I sincerely hope that everyone checks out the books and gives them a fair shake. Absolutely recommended - and I hope to read more from Moira J. Moore soon!
It has been five years since the dramatic events of Heroes at Odds, and, for the most part, Source and Shield Pair Shintaro Karish and Dunleavy Mallorough have had a much-earned restful break at the Flown Raven estate. Here, Taro and Lee know peace and happiness; Lee continues to improve on her casting skills while Taro is comfortably at home with his cousin and friend Fiona (aka Lady Westsea, and the title holder of the estate). This hero's respite, however, is about to come to an abrupt end. Lee and Taro receive unexpected summons to return to Shidonee's Gap, home of the Triple S Academy and headquarters, where they find the Triple S and the Emperor set at direct odds. Relieved of their duty as the Flown Raven Pair, Lee and Taro are mandated by the Triple S council to train shields and sources in the (formerly forbidden) arts of casting and of causing events. The Emperor, it seems, is gearing up for war against the Triple S, and it is up to Lee and Taro to train their fellow sources and shields for battle as best they can.
It's not long before Lee and Taro find themselves summoned by the Emperor himself - and after they are escorted to the palace, they are instructed by the Emperor to teach his casters and rogue pairs in the very same casting and event-instigating skills they've been teaching to the Triple S troops. Quickly, Lee and Taro see just how unstable and frightening the Emperor and his new advisor Lady Green are - the Emperor's opinion is the only one that matters, and any dissenting voices are immediately silenced (on point of death) without fair trial. Together, Lee and Taro must figure out a way to stay alive while subverting the Imperial efforts, before war tears their land apart.
The seventh and final book in the Heroes series, Heroes' Reward is a fitting end for Lee and Taro's adventures together as the Triple S's most talented - and independent - Pair. Ever since Lee and Taro were bonded, they've been on a non-stop roller coaster of action and drama, and in this final novel, we see the thrilling culmination of many of the different elements that have been simmering since Resenting the Hero. Most notably, Lee's ability to cast and use her shielding abilities to inflict devastating results, as well as Taro's ability to heal and cause events all come to fruition in this ultimate book. This is also the book in which we see the dramatic repercussions of the Pair's actions in Heroes Adrift (saving young Aryne, mixed blood heiress to the Empire), as the Emperor's state of mind and aggressive, harsh policies leave the empire torn and weakened - Aryne is the Empire's salvation, to unite a broken land (with Lee and Taro's help, of course). Having invested so many years in this series, it's amazingly gratifying and wonderful to see how it all ends, from a reader perspective. I love that Moira Moore made the effort to tell this story (even though her publisher dropped the series, after years of mis-marketing and mis-packaging the books, I might add). I love the way that everything comes to a fitting climax and resolution in Heroes' Reward - it is fittingly rewarding as a read.
Easily, this sense of finality and resolution is what I loved the most about Heroes' Reward. This, coupled with the incredibly high stakes (what with the future of an empire at stake) and the emphasis on consequences for all of Lee and Taro's actions over the arc of the series is an incredible payoff. For example, Lee's skill with casting has grown over the course of the past few books, and in Heroes' Reward, she puts those skills to the test. When she finally unveils the extent of her abilities (particularly, the ability to destroy other Sources by trapping their channeled forces as a destructive/inverse type of Shield power), the consequences are dire. Others on the opposing army learn what she is capable of, and follow her example with predictably frightening and horrific results. Another excellent strong point of this book is the pervasive feeling of powerlessness in the face of oppression, as Lee and her friends are torn between a sick Emperor with no respect for his people, and a bureaucratic (and deeply hypocritical) Triple S. In the face of this impossible situation, Lee's fear and the helplessness as the Pair is caught between these opposing forces is a very real and palpable thing.
On the negative side, however, Heroes' Reward continues that disconnected feel between both Lee and Taro. For the past couple of books, Lee and Taro's interactions - for all that they are always together - feel completely secondary and disjointed. Perhaps this is to be expected, considering how much is happening in the plot department, but one of my favorite things about this series overall is the relationship and interactions between Lee and Taro - the good, the funny, and the bad. By this seventh book, their relationship is firmly on the back-burner, and it's kind of a shame. We'll never get more of them, and I miss that intimacy the Pair had in earlier novels. Also on the shortcomings side, stylistically, there was some repetition of phrases and Lee wasn't quite as pithy as usual. That said, the writing was solid all around (also, on a technical note, formatting for the ebook simple and clean - a huge plus).
These criticisms said, overall, Heroes' Reward is an enjoyable and fitting end to a great series. I sincerely hope that everyone checks out the books and gives them a fair shake. Absolutely recommended - and I hope to read more from Moira J. Moore soon!
April 21, 2013
More 4 than 5. 4.5 stars.
I'm torn. I'd really like to throw a five star up there for Ms. Moore's conclusion to her Heroes' Series, but in the end it's a little more 4 leaning than 5 leaning- very good but not quite on edge of your seat, stay up all night reading, amazing.
Covers... well the first two in the series are horrible. The covers for books three through six while not bad artwork, also are not really representative of the world building or characters in the series. I'm not sure if this one is just equally as bad or far worse than the first two, but it definitely is mildly creepy (I'd expect this book to be about some outbreak of a deadly strain of a disease or underwater Poseidon type plot by the cover). All in all the covers did this series no favors in helping sales I'd say, which is a shame because it was quite entertaining looking back at it as a whole.
Another minor problem I had was that in the last book the fact that the two main characters had gotten married was no small part of the story arc, yet in this book they are referred to often as lovers but it was like marriage didn't happen. I just kept thinking did the author forget she did that? There were some short stories she put out on her blog just after the last book where their marital union seemed to have had some side effects on their pair bond. Those effects were mentioned in this book in a brief little paragraph meant to catch us up and remind us what happened before, so you'd think it would have been easy to say these had been a "side effect that occurred once we got married" or some equally brief mention to give a nod to the fact that the event happened. Again minor point but all the way to the end I kept waiting for just a one sentence acknowledgment.
Overall "Heroes' Reward" was a highly enjoyable read and I think Moore did a good job of tying up all the loose ends. Yes, she could probably have given Lee and Taro a couple more episodes in Flown Raven, exploring the timeframe between the events of book six and seven with threads that were hinted at in some of her blog short stories, had her publisher not dropped the series. However everything that played out felt like this was where she planned for it to go from at least book two, when we first met the emperor-to-be (if not her vision from the very beginning). There were lots of little plot points that referenced some of their earlier adventures with a lesson learned or some skill they had picked up. This could have turned little boring or gimmicky but Moore seamlessly integrated these into story and it felt a 100 percent genuine part of the plot to me. Since it seemed like a long time between this book and the last these references reminded me of the great partnership the two main characters had working and living together over the eight year span of the series events.
Reading Lee's POV once again was super enjoyable (with brief periods that did get a tiny bit preachy- but that is kind of Lee). The sense of humor was still there along with some darker actions in this story arc. It was also a revelation to see Aryne again and learn how much the character had matured- she could probably support a spin off series.
I'm a little sad to see the series go but Moore did a good job sending off Lee and Taro in satisfying way.
I'm torn. I'd really like to throw a five star up there for Ms. Moore's conclusion to her Heroes' Series, but in the end it's a little more 4 leaning than 5 leaning- very good but not quite on edge of your seat, stay up all night reading, amazing.
Covers... well the first two in the series are horrible. The covers for books three through six while not bad artwork, also are not really representative of the world building or characters in the series. I'm not sure if this one is just equally as bad or far worse than the first two, but it definitely is mildly creepy (I'd expect this book to be about some outbreak of a deadly strain of a disease or underwater Poseidon type plot by the cover). All in all the covers did this series no favors in helping sales I'd say, which is a shame because it was quite entertaining looking back at it as a whole.
Another minor problem I had was that in the last book the fact that the two main characters had gotten married was no small part of the story arc, yet in this book they are referred to often as lovers but it was like marriage didn't happen. I just kept thinking did the author forget she did that? There were some short stories she put out on her blog just after the last book where their marital union seemed to have had some side effects on their pair bond. Those effects were mentioned in this book in a brief little paragraph meant to catch us up and remind us what happened before, so you'd think it would have been easy to say these had been a "side effect that occurred once we got married" or some equally brief mention to give a nod to the fact that the event happened. Again minor point but all the way to the end I kept waiting for just a one sentence acknowledgment.
Overall "Heroes' Reward" was a highly enjoyable read and I think Moore did a good job of tying up all the loose ends. Yes, she could probably have given Lee and Taro a couple more episodes in Flown Raven, exploring the timeframe between the events of book six and seven with threads that were hinted at in some of her blog short stories, had her publisher not dropped the series. However everything that played out felt like this was where she planned for it to go from at least book two, when we first met the emperor-to-be (if not her vision from the very beginning). There were lots of little plot points that referenced some of their earlier adventures with a lesson learned or some skill they had picked up. This could have turned little boring or gimmicky but Moore seamlessly integrated these into story and it felt a 100 percent genuine part of the plot to me. Since it seemed like a long time between this book and the last these references reminded me of the great partnership the two main characters had working and living together over the eight year span of the series events.
Reading Lee's POV once again was super enjoyable (with brief periods that did get a tiny bit preachy- but that is kind of Lee). The sense of humor was still there along with some darker actions in this story arc. It was also a revelation to see Aryne again and learn how much the character had matured- she could probably support a spin off series.
I'm a little sad to see the series go but Moore did a good job sending off Lee and Taro in satisfying way.
October 1, 2016
Unsatisfying conclusion to a overall solid fantasy series.
I mainlined this series, reading all 7 books in a little over a month. For better or worse, it allowed me to easily see some of the weaknesses in this series, culminating in the final book.
I wanted two important things to happen in this final book:
I could say tons more about problems I had, but I won't because they are less important. I understand how the series abruptly needing to be self-published to continue left the author in the lurch, and I am very grateful she decided to wrap it up and give the readers a final volume. Honestly, if I had read this expecting more novels to continue the story, I would have rated it higher because I would have faith the two issues above would eventually be discussed. But as this is the last, I know I'll never get closure on either of those points.
I mainlined this series, reading all 7 books in a little over a month. For better or worse, it allowed me to easily see some of the weaknesses in this series, culminating in the final book.
I wanted two important things to happen in this final book:
1. More of Lee and Taro's relationship aside from the professional. They get married in the last book FFS, and not once (NOT ONE SINGLE TIME) is this mentioned in this book. Everyone else calls them lovers, and they ofc do not talk about their relationship. The emotional aspect of their relationship, which is so fundamental in developing intimacy that is believable to readers, is completely missing once they become a couple. They never even officially talk about being a couple; Lee and Taro let momentum push them into sex, then being a couple, then marriage. How is this satisfying to the reader? If there had even been some fallout or repercussions explored from their lack of communication, I would have been happy. It is the biggest shame because the first two books had such potential before the two started having sex. The sex isn't even satisfying -__- (tbh this is the most grievous sin)
2. The failures of the Triple S to be confronted and remedied. Since the first book (probably since the first page of the first book!!), the seeds have been planted that the Triple S is not all that they seem. The rules the Sources and Shields have been brainwashed to believe are fundamental maybe aren't so necessary or great for everyone. Some aspects of the set-up between the government and the Triple S hurt society at large. Some aspects hurt the Sources and Shields. I couldn't possibly name them all, but I'm going to try: sources and shields are taken away from their families, if they don't bond they are useless, some commit suicide because of this, the whole taxes issue and the sources and shields can take whatever they want, they can't own land, sources and shields sometimes hate each other but still have to work together forever, if one partner misbehaves then both are punished, etc etc etc. This book takes a complete 180 and expects us to forgive the Triple S for being shady and side with them in the battle against the government. EVEN WORSE, none of these problems are even addressed after the fight is over and the new government is established.
I could say tons more about problems I had, but I won't because they are less important. I understand how the series abruptly needing to be self-published to continue left the author in the lurch, and I am very grateful she decided to wrap it up and give the readers a final volume. Honestly, if I had read this expecting more novels to continue the story, I would have rated it higher because I would have faith the two issues above would eventually be discussed. But as this is the last, I know I'll never get closure on either of those points.
December 31, 2012
Heroes' Reward is the self-published final book in Moira Moore's Heroes series. As a reader of the series who had felt the quality was declining, I both appreciate (1) why the publisher chose not to renew the author's contract, and (2) that the author chose to finish the story anyway and put the final book online for free to give closure for her readers. The latter is an unusual move that should be applauded. (BTW, it's fairly clear from the progression of the cover art that the publisher may never have quite figured out what the series was about and mis-marketed it).
This final book wraps up most of the loose ends of the greater story, in a perhaps somewhat more rushed fashion than might have happened if the series hadn't been cancelled. Overall, I'd say the ending is satisfying, if somewhat heavy handed and a bit awkward at times.
This final book wraps up most of the loose ends of the greater story, in a perhaps somewhat more rushed fashion than might have happened if the series hadn't been cancelled. Overall, I'd say the ending is satisfying, if somewhat heavy handed and a bit awkward at times.
April 23, 2015
So, after over a year, I've finally managed to finish this series. Instead of spreading my thoughts out by reviewing each book, I'm just going to dump all of my feelings about the series here. I usually don't write reviews, but I really need to share my feelings on this.
(Spoilers/A couple of .gifs below!)
If you're interested in the series, I would suggest reading the first four books. And if you think you can handle it, try the remaining three. I'm an extremely picky reader, so I'm sure someone else wouldn't mind the things I'm complaining about.
In the end, I'm just disappointed.
(Spoilers/A couple of .gifs below!)
If you're interested in the series, I would suggest reading the first four books. And if you think you can handle it, try the remaining three. I'm an extremely picky reader, so I'm sure someone else wouldn't mind the things I'm complaining about.
In the end, I'm just disappointed.
August 16, 2013
I struggled with this one. I wanted to like it, because I've loved the previous ones (though they have been steadily declining) and I was really fascinated by the concept of the First Landed and kept hoping the books would delve into that -- to no avail. I love the characters, but... sigh. They just seemed more wooden than they ever have been. Having Lee and Taro stand around and WATCH events for the entire book just wasn't engaging.
December 29, 2012
I liked this book purely because it tied up some of the loose ends of story arcs that had been building in books 1-6. However, I can't say as it's my favorite in the series. I trust it won't be a spoiler to say that most of this book is dominated by intrigue and war? I felt that it took the focus off of being Shields and Sources, which the series was originally about. There's a part of me that wishes a return to the more episodic nature of the first half of the series, and a part of me that's... contented, I suppose, at the story arc being brought to a close in this way. Hm.
February 26, 2013
Not as good as I was hoping for in this finale. Still a fun romp with Taro and Lee but too much weird action happening in odd ways.
August 19, 2025
Ugh. I really hate to rate this so low, but I was so disappointed. This had the potential to be my favorite book series, and I really enjoyed all the others. However, I think the author didn’t realize that the heart of this story was the romance between Taro and Lee, not the politics. It seems like they barely even spoke to each other throughout this book, and I didn’t hear anything about their wedding. Really sad :(
May 10, 2016
The Heroes series includes seven titles (Resenting the Hero, The Hero Strikes Back, Heroes Adrift, Heroes at Risk, Heroes Return, Heroes at Odds and Heroes' Reward), the last of which was self-published as an e-book. Each novel is a complete story in itself and they do not have to be read in order, although later books may provide spoilers for some of the earlier titles.
This is the conclusion of Dunleavy and Taro's adventures, and it's clearly time for the series to end. All the way through the Heroes books the most interesting character has been the world itself. Moore obviously took great care in designing her fantasy setting, with special attention to its social customs and mores, but in this novel she's run out of things to say. The book feels less finished than its predecessors, possibly because it wasn't published commercially. In any case, to stretch things out any further risks turning our heroes into parodies of themselves, which would be a tragic thing to happen to an interesting pair.
Moore has an unfortunate fondness for overdescribing ritual. Some of the other books suffer from this: the coronation of Emperor Gifford drags on for pages, and some of the spellcasting scenes take forever. In this book the ritualism is completely out of control--virtually the entire latter half of the book is taken up by the procedures for .
Throughout the series the tone is consistently light, which I appreciate, though it sometimes seems out of place in the serious scenes. This book deals with darker themes than any of the others and the light tone starts to feel as if the author is shying away from grappling with her story. The conclusion, in particular, is ludicrous.
If this had been the first book in the series, I doubt I would have continued. Still, fans will want to pick it up, if only to know how the story ends. It isn't a profound disappointment, just not as good as I've come to expect from Moore.
This is the conclusion of Dunleavy and Taro's adventures, and it's clearly time for the series to end. All the way through the Heroes books the most interesting character has been the world itself. Moore obviously took great care in designing her fantasy setting, with special attention to its social customs and mores, but in this novel she's run out of things to say. The book feels less finished than its predecessors, possibly because it wasn't published commercially. In any case, to stretch things out any further risks turning our heroes into parodies of themselves, which would be a tragic thing to happen to an interesting pair.
Moore has an unfortunate fondness for overdescribing ritual. Some of the other books suffer from this: the coronation of Emperor Gifford drags on for pages, and some of the spellcasting scenes take forever. In this book the ritualism is completely out of control--virtually the entire latter half of the book is taken up by the procedures for .
Throughout the series the tone is consistently light, which I appreciate, though it sometimes seems out of place in the serious scenes. This book deals with darker themes than any of the others and the light tone starts to feel as if the author is shying away from grappling with her story. The conclusion, in particular, is ludicrous.
If this had been the first book in the series, I doubt I would have continued. Still, fans will want to pick it up, if only to know how the story ends. It isn't a profound disappointment, just not as good as I've come to expect from Moore.
December 20, 2015
Taro is a source that channels the energy of natural disasters, Lee is his shield that protects him while channeling. This time Lee and Taro are in for a long battle, where they would have to reconsider whose side to take on, the Triple S whom they have been hiding information and going their own way for years or their emperor who have been acting erratically.
I have said this before but here it goes this series has the more horrible covers out there and misrepresented the series as a whole, which is a very enjoyable and entertaining series, every book has its twist on plot and secondary characters that bring something extra to the table. Lee is a mind of her own, she lives in a round world and her mind is a square, she doesn't seem to understand people's behavior and how to soothe things because she's not in their same weave but it is compelling and funny to see how her mind works. Taro, poor Taro, has to deal with the fact that as a source, he's a little peculiar and it's an interesting pair they make. The part about the ancestors is weird for the fact that is kind of Stargateish and it clash a little with emperors, horses, castles, etc. but really original.
Back to this book in particular. First I have to say that I was a little confused by how everybody was asking our favorite couple about being lovers and how everybody was surprised by this, I mean there was an event at the end of the last book that I thought was everybody’s knowledge but I could be wrong.
This couldn’t be a stand alone even when any past event it's explained, I think it should be read as a series or you would be getting annoyed by Lee and Taro without the proper background. This last book wasn’t published, but the author had the end already in her mind and decided to go ahead, write it and give it for free to all the fans of the series. It was good as a nice closing for a fun series, the climax wasn’t what I was expecting, but even when there wasn’t this big set up, I like it, more like ending with intelligence and strength than death.
I have said this before but here it goes this series has the more horrible covers out there and misrepresented the series as a whole, which is a very enjoyable and entertaining series, every book has its twist on plot and secondary characters that bring something extra to the table. Lee is a mind of her own, she lives in a round world and her mind is a square, she doesn't seem to understand people's behavior and how to soothe things because she's not in their same weave but it is compelling and funny to see how her mind works. Taro, poor Taro, has to deal with the fact that as a source, he's a little peculiar and it's an interesting pair they make. The part about the ancestors is weird for the fact that is kind of Stargateish and it clash a little with emperors, horses, castles, etc. but really original.
Back to this book in particular. First I have to say that I was a little confused by how everybody was asking our favorite couple about being lovers and how everybody was surprised by this, I mean there was an event at the end of the last book that I thought was everybody’s knowledge but I could be wrong.
This couldn’t be a stand alone even when any past event it's explained, I think it should be read as a series or you would be getting annoyed by Lee and Taro without the proper background. This last book wasn’t published, but the author had the end already in her mind and decided to go ahead, write it and give it for free to all the fans of the series. It was good as a nice closing for a fun series, the climax wasn’t what I was expecting, but even when there wasn’t this big set up, I like it, more like ending with intelligence and strength than death.
June 22, 2016
I read this just to finish the series, and while it wasn't bad, it still wasn't as enjoyable a read as the first three books. Taro and Lee are like an old married couple, and the amount of snark between them is sadly lacking. Have I mentioned that those was my favorite part of this whole series? It was nice to read about the evolution/acceptance of casting, but Green and Gifford seemed to be only plot moving characters, and hollow/2D at that. Even Aryne wasn't as rich of a character as she was before, since she had to really step into a certain mold for this book. The entire last portion of the book, where the climax was, had me reading just to get through it and enjoy what little witticisms there were with Taro and Lee. Probably one of the best was, "We might have to revisit the rule about no sex in the palace." I had very little investment in the trials, which should have been more engaging.
February 21, 2017
This book was clearly necessary to close off the loose ends in the series. It is mostly plot, rather than character or relationship development. Since I am not a fan of magic battles and such, this one felt ho-hum. Ok, ok, so they managed to wipe the floor with the bad guys, eventually, after almost losing. I didn't care as much about the details.
Because the relational problems were largely ironed out by the end of the last book, that particularly charming aspect of the series was mostly missing here, and one was left with the politics (moderately interesting) and the fights (less interesting, to me at least, but probably some people would like it). Hence my rating of "ok". But if you got this far in the series, you're certainly going to want to know how it ends, so you'll want to read this.
Because the relational problems were largely ironed out by the end of the last book, that particularly charming aspect of the series was mostly missing here, and one was left with the politics (moderately interesting) and the fights (less interesting, to me at least, but probably some people would like it). Hence my rating of "ok". But if you got this far in the series, you're certainly going to want to know how it ends, so you'll want to read this.
January 26, 2013
Moira J. Moore is just brilliant for finishing a series and not leaving her fans hanging after her publisher declined to publish her last book.
This is the the final book in the Heroes series ( which you can read at her livejournal or get it from Smashwordsm setting your own price).
If your going to read this, likely you are a fan and know the story well, so be assurred that this is a great read, carrying the story to a satisfying conclusion. Ms. Moore doesn't skimp on the plot or the conclusion
This is the the final book in the Heroes series ( which you can read at her livejournal or get it from Smashwordsm setting your own price).
If your going to read this, likely you are a fan and know the story well, so be assurred that this is a great read, carrying the story to a satisfying conclusion. Ms. Moore doesn't skimp on the plot or the conclusion
April 11, 2013
I wish Moore had a chance to publish this with a cover and everything. Such a shame the publishers overlooked such a decent piece of fiction. My only gripe on how she ended the series was that Taro and Dunleavy's marriage is never really discussed, just veiled allusions to sex and their bond. the marriage was such a big deal in the penultimate book; it seems kind of a shame to completely neglect it in the last one.
March 16, 2013
2.5 Stars
The grand finale was a let down. The way people died was so inconsequential and casual. The writing was only okay. The best part of the series is Leavy and Taro's banter and relationship and those were lacking in this book. While it was nice that loose ends were tied up, especially the side-story with Aryne, the book was boring to get through and my only reason for continue to read it is was that I wanted to finish the series.
The grand finale was a let down. The way people died was so inconsequential and casual. The writing was only okay. The best part of the series is Leavy and Taro's banter and relationship and those were lacking in this book. While it was nice that loose ends were tied up, especially the side-story with Aryne, the book was boring to get through and my only reason for continue to read it is was that I wanted to finish the series.
April 27, 2020
Not a super satisfying ending for me. I felt that there were parts in the last book that I wanted to be explored more. I did like the world though I would have liked it if the Source and Shield stuff were more the focus (and the rules for it didn't change from one book to another) though. Still, quick fun read.
January 21, 2013
Thank you Moira J Morre, for caring enough about your readers to finish up a beloved series even after your publisher says no. I loved the adventures of Taro and Lea and even though Heroes' Reward is a very fitting ending, I'm sad to see our heroes'tales come to an end.
June 10, 2020
Pretty weak ending for what used to be a decent series. This was self-published, and you could definitely tell. This book badly needed an editor.
December 28, 2020
Overall I think the first four books were the strongest but I still enjoyed the series. It seemed like in the beginning they were so paranoid about the Triple S finding out what they could do but then it turned out that not only did they already know but lots of other people could do it too and they were being trained in it. It also didn't help that the latter books didn't focus on Lee and Karish's relationship at all which was what I really enjoyed in the earlier books. Their banter became almost non-existent and there weren't even many sweet moments that one would expect of an established couple but I do acknowledge these books are primarily fantasy novels. Still though!
Summary: Lee and Karish learn that they're being replaced at Flown Raven after 5 years and are called to go to Triple S head quarters where they're expected to train Pairs and Casters. Then they're summoned by the emperor and expected to fight for him against the Triple S so they have to find a way to escape and win against the emperor.
Summary: Lee and Karish learn that they're being replaced at Flown Raven after 5 years and are called to go to Triple S head quarters where they're expected to train Pairs and Casters. Then they're summoned by the emperor and expected to fight for him against the Triple S so they have to find a way to escape and win against the emperor.
August 5, 2023
Brief review - full review to follow.
3.5 stars rounded up
And we are done with this series - quite a number of years after I found it at the library. Leaving Taro and Lee behind is a little bittersweet but it was a good place to end, wit plot thread resolved (even if they needed to be jammed in sometimes).
I am sad we didn’t get an extended epilogue for the series but one can’t have everything. The book was more fast paced than usual for the series - mostly because I think the author was wrapping up the series. An epilogue would have given it not space to breath. In fact, the book’s pace kind of made me anxious at times which is not the typical vibe of the series at all.
I am rounding up the read because I enjoyed my time in the series. It has been a shaken journey at times but I am glad I took it. I will miss the characters and that is, in the end, a testament to the book.
3.5 stars rounded up
And we are done with this series - quite a number of years after I found it at the library. Leaving Taro and Lee behind is a little bittersweet but it was a good place to end, wit plot thread resolved (even if they needed to be jammed in sometimes).
I am sad we didn’t get an extended epilogue for the series but one can’t have everything. The book was more fast paced than usual for the series - mostly because I think the author was wrapping up the series. An epilogue would have given it not space to breath. In fact, the book’s pace kind of made me anxious at times which is not the typical vibe of the series at all.
I am rounding up the read because I enjoyed my time in the series. It has been a shaken journey at times but I am glad I took it. I will miss the characters and that is, in the end, a testament to the book.
April 29, 2024
Apparently, the publisher chose to discontinue this series after book #6 (not that one can entirely blame them - the first three books were great, #4-6 much less so IMO), so Moore chose to self-publish a final volume to finish the story. It's therefore no wonder trying to tie up all loose ends in a single book feels a little rushed, especially after the tediously meandering pace of the previous installments. However, forcing a tighter focus and avoiding getting lost in unnecessary sideplots did this one a world of good, rendering it vastly more engaging and engrossing than had recently been the case. While I wasn't a fan of the silly, dragged out contest to determine the next ruler that didn't make for as satisfying a dénouement as I'd have liked, I otherwise enjoyed the way the story concluded. Definitely glad Moore got to finish it and leave her characters in a good place.
did-not-finish
November 15, 2024DNF 23%. I appreciate the author finishing this series. I hate stories that don't get their ending. Unfortunately for me it's been 15+ years since I've read the first 5? 6? books.
I've lost most of the details of the story. I've lost my connection to the characters. I'm not the same person who read this series and I don't believe I would enjoy it now. There's no reason for me to go back through it to recapture the plot.
So I'm grateful that the series has an end. Thank you to Moore for that. The end has simply come before that for me.
I've lost most of the details of the story. I've lost my connection to the characters. I'm not the same person who read this series and I don't believe I would enjoy it now. There's no reason for me to go back through it to recapture the plot.
So I'm grateful that the series has an end. Thank you to Moore for that. The end has simply come before that for me.
March 4, 2025
My heart is broken now that the series is over. I am so glad we finally got Aryne back! But I was disappointed at the lack of banter between Lee and Taro. Now that I think about it, there has not been nearly enough fun between the two since at least book 3. But almost everyone got a happy ending. So what more could I want???
February 26, 2015
Hey, you are about to read the review to the seventh and last book in Moira J. Moore's awesome Hero's series. Better read book one till three first before going on.
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"Heroes' Reward" is the seventh and last book in Moira J. Moore's Hero's series. It is this kind of book you wish every author would write after finishing their series. Mrs. Moore manages to answer the open questions left after book six without losing the magic and giving too much of an end feeling.
The Story begins five years after the action from book 6 and eight years after the Bonding Ceremony of Lee (29) and Taro (36). Lee and Taro are married and in a stable relationship, but not everything is fine. The Emperor seems to have become crazy and this Pair knows of someone who might be a better fit for the throne. Besides they are pulled from one site to the other. First the Triple S wants them to teach their Casters and Pairs all the secret abilities of our Pair. Then the Emperor calls and wants the same. Only here Lee and Taro finally meet the true power behind the throne and that changes quite a bit. Meanwhile the situation between the Triple S and the Emperor reaches its peak. Can our Pair prevent a war or will they for the first time fail in their own expectations?
The last volume in the Hero series has again everything and more of the previous books. It was exciting and funny. Lee and Taro were fighting for what is right and following their believes like all the times before. There was one action scene after another and our Pair always in the middle of it doing things everyone else was too afraid for. Lee and Taro are great humans and it is too bad they are not real. Our world could need people like them. Because in the real world there are certainly head-strong factions like the Triple S and the Crown who just butt heads and refuse to bend a little bit. They often quite stubbornly insist on their opinions to the annoyance of everyone else. I had a nice time reading all the 'crazy and irrational' explanations about the actions of the Crown or Triple S and why it was justified.
The most astounding phenomenon is Willa Newscomb, Lady Green. For a better understanding of her character it is a good start to read the short story about her. It helps to understand her way of thinking and to learn about her goals. I am not sure that she is crazy or anything like that more likely she is a total control freak. It seems that in her belief everyone needs her help to master the various difficulties of their lives because alone they just make too many mistakes (which is actually normal but it seems she cannot stand this). The whole problem is to find rules which work for everyone. Obviously it does not work since people are just different. In the end there are so many rules which constantly change that everything is thrown into chaos. Lady Green achieved the total opposite because now nobody knows how to behave or what to do. It was hilarious to read.
The plot got also it lightness from the interactions between Lee and Taro. There was no angst in their romance anymore. Lee and Taro are married for five years now and their relationship is stable, something everyone else always hopes for. They are sweet to each other without any mistrust anymore in their interactions with each other. This is just another type of romance. Even the little situation where the meaning of the title "The Stallion of the Triple S" arises again does not matter. Rather it is used to their advantage. It is a relief to read about a couple who works so well with each other without artificial complications.
You know I always wondered why Lee thought she was not as talented as Karish or was not one of the best Shields out there. I mean she was the only Shield in High Scape that was able to stop Creol's first attack while the others died and Ogawa and Tenneson fell into a coma from which Karish had to save them in the end. Also, she is a great Caster and maybe Karish can cast as well since he is able to feel the casting sensation but for some reason he choose not to learn. (It is also mentioned he might be resistant to casts.) I think he wanted to give Lee something that only she can do which is really sweet of him. However that does not matter because Lee is as awesome as Karish and it is good that she finally accepted her powers are special as well.
The end is explosive and still manages to introduce some interesting ideas I found amusing and important at the same time:
I often wonder whether beautiful people actually know that they are beautiful. Also, voting does not seem that bad all the time. And just imagine a world with a soul. You know what I am referring to when you read it.
Generally this series was an awesome journey through a unique world with two fantastic protagonists/heroes written in a refreshing and apt style by Moira J. Moore. I would not want to miss it for anything in this world.
Thanks Mrs. Moore for an awesome series. I really enjoyed reading it.
Note on Short Stories:
One last scene before saying goodbye to our Heroes.
- Another Dinner From Hell in Lee's POV (scene cut from Heroes' Reward)
-------------------------------------------------
"Heroes' Reward" is the seventh and last book in Moira J. Moore's Hero's series. It is this kind of book you wish every author would write after finishing their series. Mrs. Moore manages to answer the open questions left after book six without losing the magic and giving too much of an end feeling.
The Story begins five years after the action from book 6 and eight years after the Bonding Ceremony of Lee (29) and Taro (36). Lee and Taro are married and in a stable relationship, but not everything is fine. The Emperor seems to have become crazy and this Pair knows of someone who might be a better fit for the throne. Besides they are pulled from one site to the other. First the Triple S wants them to teach their Casters and Pairs all the secret abilities of our Pair. Then the Emperor calls and wants the same. Only here Lee and Taro finally meet the true power behind the throne and that changes quite a bit. Meanwhile the situation between the Triple S and the Emperor reaches its peak. Can our Pair prevent a war or will they for the first time fail in their own expectations?
The last volume in the Hero series has again everything and more of the previous books. It was exciting and funny. Lee and Taro were fighting for what is right and following their believes like all the times before. There was one action scene after another and our Pair always in the middle of it doing things everyone else was too afraid for. Lee and Taro are great humans and it is too bad they are not real. Our world could need people like them. Because in the real world there are certainly head-strong factions like the Triple S and the Crown who just butt heads and refuse to bend a little bit. They often quite stubbornly insist on their opinions to the annoyance of everyone else. I had a nice time reading all the 'crazy and irrational' explanations about the actions of the Crown or Triple S and why it was justified.
The most astounding phenomenon is Willa Newscomb, Lady Green. For a better understanding of her character it is a good start to read the short story about her. It helps to understand her way of thinking and to learn about her goals. I am not sure that she is crazy or anything like that more likely she is a total control freak. It seems that in her belief everyone needs her help to master the various difficulties of their lives because alone they just make too many mistakes (which is actually normal but it seems she cannot stand this). The whole problem is to find rules which work for everyone. Obviously it does not work since people are just different. In the end there are so many rules which constantly change that everything is thrown into chaos. Lady Green achieved the total opposite because now nobody knows how to behave or what to do. It was hilarious to read.
The plot got also it lightness from the interactions between Lee and Taro. There was no angst in their romance anymore. Lee and Taro are married for five years now and their relationship is stable, something everyone else always hopes for. They are sweet to each other without any mistrust anymore in their interactions with each other. This is just another type of romance. Even the little situation where the meaning of the title "The Stallion of the Triple S" arises again does not matter. Rather it is used to their advantage. It is a relief to read about a couple who works so well with each other without artificial complications.
You know I always wondered why Lee thought she was not as talented as Karish or was not one of the best Shields out there. I mean she was the only Shield in High Scape that was able to stop Creol's first attack while the others died and Ogawa and Tenneson fell into a coma from which Karish had to save them in the end. Also, she is a great Caster and maybe Karish can cast as well since he is able to feel the casting sensation but for some reason he choose not to learn. (It is also mentioned he might be resistant to casts.) I think he wanted to give Lee something that only she can do which is really sweet of him. However that does not matter because Lee is as awesome as Karish and it is good that she finally accepted her powers are special as well.
The end is explosive and still manages to introduce some interesting ideas I found amusing and important at the same time:
I often wonder whether beautiful people actually know that they are beautiful. Also, voting does not seem that bad all the time. And just imagine a world with a soul. You know what I am referring to when you read it.
Generally this series was an awesome journey through a unique world with two fantastic protagonists/heroes written in a refreshing and apt style by Moira J. Moore. I would not want to miss it for anything in this world.
Thanks Mrs. Moore for an awesome series. I really enjoyed reading it.
Note on Short Stories:
One last scene before saying goodbye to our Heroes.
- Another Dinner From Hell in Lee's POV (scene cut from Heroes' Reward)
February 29, 2020
I kinda think this series doesn't have anything more to say about its world, but Moore is a decent writer and I enjoy the characters.
March 26, 2021
It has been so long since I finished reading the first six books in this series, but Heroes' Reward seems to have wrapped up all the loose ends from the previous novels. So I got closure. Yay!
May 15, 2015
15.5.2015 - 4*
Je to po pěti zatracených letech po posledním dílu! A damn him! Taro už má skoro čtyřicet. Dammit! :D Byl to šok. Ale docela příjemný vzhledem k tomu, že si v posledních dílech Taro tolik stěžoval, že nemají ani chvíli klidu.
Charaktery se lehce změnily. Musely, po takové době, dospěly více. Nebylo to dokonalé, možná kvůli povaze jejich "magie", ale znatelné. V jejich chování, interakci mezi sebou. Lee a Taro byli miláčci a jako děti, i když byli dospělí. Jesus, a teď byli doopravdy dospělí.
Vedlejší postavy se mi líbily. Přestože to byl příběh Tara a Lee, nebylo to jen o nich. A nebyli dokonalí. To je to, co jsem na nich celou dobu milovala. Snažili se. Žili. A lidé kolem nich taky. Série byla především o těch dvou. A nemůžu uvěřit, jak se od prvního dílu změnili. Lee se svou místy až natvrdlostí. Povahou, která vyplývala z její pozice Štítu. Také to, jak ji změnil Taro. A miláček Shintaro. Parchant, floutek, se svými mrzutými náladami, výbuchy, teatrálností a flirtováním. Všechno znaky Zdroje, pozice, do které se zase narodil on. Oba měli své chyby. Krásné, realistické, charakteristické nedostatky.
A kam až došli. Jak vyrostli.
Hrdinové. A já je zatraceně zbožňuju.
Konec série. Damn, tato série si mě nárokovala, získala, dostala se mi pod kůži. A poslední díl byl... nečekaný. Dobrý. Skvělý.
Taky zmatený. Trochu naivní, trochu jednoduchý, ale stejně jsem si jej užila. Byl jiný než zbytek série.
Válka. Byla tam válka. Byla tam magie, jiná než jakou jsme znali. Byla tam trocha politiky.
Co mě mrzí, svět se už nijak více neprohloubil. Musím sice Moore uznat, že na to, že to byl poslední díl a vše bylo zamotané, pár nových věcí se tam objevilo, poměrně vlastně hodně, ale ráda bych více zabrousila do historie, kultury. Magie. Taky jsem místy měla pocit nepodchycených volných konců z předchozích knih, ale mohla to být i moje nepozornost.
Některé situace mi přišli zvláštní. Veselé. Některé skoro nelogické. Tahle kniha si možná nezaslouží čtyři hvězdičky, ale tohle je spíše hodnocení emocionální než kvalitativní. Protože se mi Hrdinové dostali pod kůži. Žila jsem s nimi. Milovala je. A zatraceně nerada je opouštím. .')
(btw - jsem zatraceně ráda, že tato kniha vůbec vyšla, vzhledem k tomu, že autorka musela poslední díl vydat vlastním nákladem. A co je ještě úžasnější, dala jej naprosto free pro své čtenáře, aby sérii uzavřela. Za to ji obdivuji. Kniha sice postrádá kvalitu předchozích dílů, ale stejně jsem si ji užila. :))
Je to po pěti zatracených letech po posledním dílu! A damn him! Taro už má skoro čtyřicet. Dammit! :D Byl to šok. Ale docela příjemný vzhledem k tomu, že si v posledních dílech Taro tolik stěžoval, že nemají ani chvíli klidu.
Charaktery se lehce změnily. Musely, po takové době, dospěly více. Nebylo to dokonalé, možná kvůli povaze jejich "magie", ale znatelné. V jejich chování, interakci mezi sebou. Lee a Taro byli miláčci a jako děti, i když byli dospělí. Jesus, a teď byli doopravdy dospělí.
Vedlejší postavy se mi líbily. Přestože to byl příběh Tara a Lee, nebylo to jen o nich. A nebyli dokonalí. To je to, co jsem na nich celou dobu milovala. Snažili se. Žili. A lidé kolem nich taky. Série byla především o těch dvou. A nemůžu uvěřit, jak se od prvního dílu změnili. Lee se svou místy až natvrdlostí. Povahou, která vyplývala z její pozice Štítu. Také to, jak ji změnil Taro. A miláček Shintaro. Parchant, floutek, se svými mrzutými náladami, výbuchy, teatrálností a flirtováním. Všechno znaky Zdroje, pozice, do které se zase narodil on. Oba měli své chyby. Krásné, realistické, charakteristické nedostatky.
A kam až došli. Jak vyrostli.
Hrdinové. A já je zatraceně zbožňuju.
Konec série. Damn, tato série si mě nárokovala, získala, dostala se mi pod kůži. A poslední díl byl... nečekaný. Dobrý. Skvělý.
Taky zmatený. Trochu naivní, trochu jednoduchý, ale stejně jsem si jej užila. Byl jiný než zbytek série.
Válka. Byla tam válka. Byla tam magie, jiná než jakou jsme znali. Byla tam trocha politiky.
Co mě mrzí, svět se už nijak více neprohloubil. Musím sice Moore uznat, že na to, že to byl poslední díl a vše bylo zamotané, pár nových věcí se tam objevilo, poměrně vlastně hodně, ale ráda bych více zabrousila do historie, kultury. Magie. Taky jsem místy měla pocit nepodchycených volných konců z předchozích knih, ale mohla to být i moje nepozornost.
Některé situace mi přišli zvláštní. Veselé. Některé skoro nelogické. Tahle kniha si možná nezaslouží čtyři hvězdičky, ale tohle je spíše hodnocení emocionální než kvalitativní. Protože se mi Hrdinové dostali pod kůži. Žila jsem s nimi. Milovala je. A zatraceně nerada je opouštím. .')
(btw - jsem zatraceně ráda, že tato kniha vůbec vyšla, vzhledem k tomu, že autorka musela poslední díl vydat vlastním nákladem. A co je ještě úžasnější, dala jej naprosto free pro své čtenáře, aby sérii uzavřela. Za to ji obdivuji. Kniha sice postrádá kvalitu předchozích dílů, ale stejně jsem si ji užila. :))
Read
September 10, 2013This is the seventh and final volume of Moira J. Moore’s charming and overall very entertaining series, self-published by the author when her regular publisher dropped her after Heroes at Odds. I’m not sure whether the series was supposed to have seven volumes from the start or whether the author sped things up to arrive at an ending with this installment - there do seem to be some unresolved minor threads, but everything major gets resolved nicely.
With all the enthusiastic genre-mixing this series has been doing it would have been strange if there had not been a last surprise in store for the final installment, and indeed it has – Heroes’s Reward is going all Epic Fantasy on us, with marching armies, pitched battles, a forgotten heir and stuff. Moira J. Moore really ramps things up here and raises the stakes, giving events a dramatic impact and urgency that is appropriate for a series finale. And after the (comparatively) quiet and pastoral last two volumes, Heroes’ Reward is pretty much non-stop action.
Not that non-stop that there wasn’t time left to spend on the characters, however - in fact, my favourite part in this volume was the return of Aryne (from the third novel, Heroes Adrift - the one of the piratey cover). She has matured quite a bit in the meantime, and as it turns out into a very interesting character – smart, fiery, with a decided penchant for being reckless and generally a lot of fun to read about. I’d really love to read a spin-off with her as heroine – actually, if I remember correctly, Moira J. Moore did write some stories about Aryne’s time at the Academy and published those on her website, maybe she’ll release those as an e-book some time, too… Or I could bite the bullet and read them on her website, I suppose, but I don’t really like doing that.
Anyway, Heroes’ Reward presents the satisfying conclusion to a very enjoyable but sadly underrated series. It really would have deserved to be more of a success, and I hope Moira J. Moore’s next novel will do better – I for one am definitely going to grab it when it comes out.
With all the enthusiastic genre-mixing this series has been doing it would have been strange if there had not been a last surprise in store for the final installment, and indeed it has – Heroes’s Reward is going all Epic Fantasy on us, with marching armies, pitched battles, a forgotten heir and stuff. Moira J. Moore really ramps things up here and raises the stakes, giving events a dramatic impact and urgency that is appropriate for a series finale. And after the (comparatively) quiet and pastoral last two volumes, Heroes’ Reward is pretty much non-stop action.
Not that non-stop that there wasn’t time left to spend on the characters, however - in fact, my favourite part in this volume was the return of Aryne (from the third novel, Heroes Adrift - the one of the piratey cover). She has matured quite a bit in the meantime, and as it turns out into a very interesting character – smart, fiery, with a decided penchant for being reckless and generally a lot of fun to read about. I’d really love to read a spin-off with her as heroine – actually, if I remember correctly, Moira J. Moore did write some stories about Aryne’s time at the Academy and published those on her website, maybe she’ll release those as an e-book some time, too… Or I could bite the bullet and read them on her website, I suppose, but I don’t really like doing that.
Anyway, Heroes’ Reward presents the satisfying conclusion to a very enjoyable but sadly underrated series. It really would have deserved to be more of a success, and I hope Moira J. Moore’s next novel will do better – I for one am definitely going to grab it when it comes out.
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